Metallic inlay decoration for spectacle cases



Nov. 26, 1935. c. R. JERRY METALLIC INLAY DECORATION FOR SPECTACLE CASESFiled Oct. l2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ENTDR TTU'R EYE WnNEs 5 @QW Nov.26, 1935. c. R. JERRY 2,022,316

METALLIC INLAY DECORATION FOR SPECTACLE CASES Filed oct. 12, 1934 2sheets-sheet 2 w//F WITH E5 5 39 BY Patented Nov. 26, 1935 l UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

METALLIC INLAY DECORATION Foa SPECTACLE CAsEs Application october 12,1934, serial No. 748,108 17 Claims. (01.41-34) 'I'his invention r:latesto a decorated spectacle caseA and pertains more particularly to adecorative element for the case and to the manner of applying the samethereto.

The main object of my invention is to provide a spectacle case or thelike with simple and inexpensive decoration means that may be quicklyand easily applied to the conventionally constructed case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a case structure of theabove mentioned class cornprising a flexible covering composed of aplurality of pieces arranged in juxtaposed relation and to provide adecorative element that may be rcadily applied to the case in such a.manner as to join and conceal the adjacent edges of the covering.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a decorativeelement for a case comprising metallic members which, although partiallyimbedded in the covering for the case member, will have the appearanceof being fully inlaid.

Still another object of the invention resides in producing a decorativeelement for spectacle cases or the like having a structure which isreadily applicable to a multiplicity of diierent designs.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the construction of thedecorative element and to the manner of applying the same to a spectaclecase all of which will more fully appear from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spectacle case having a decorativeelement embodying the various features of this invention associatedtherewith. v

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one end of aspectacle-case in the open position and a portion of the inner lining ofthe cover thereof folded backwardly to better illustrate Vthe underlyingstructure.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the decorative element illustrated inFigure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlargedy transverse sectional view taken on line 4 4,Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5,Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a spectacle case illustrating a modiedform of an outer case covering togetherwith a modified form of my noveldecorative element.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional vview taken on line 1-1, Figure6. v

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the decorative elcment illustrated inFigure 6.-

Figure 9 is a plan view of aspectacle case illustrating a furthermodified form of decorative element.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the decorative element illustrated in Figure9 before the same has been applied to the case.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a spectacle case illustrating a stillfurther modified form of decol0 rative element appliedv thereto.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the decorative element illustrated in Figure11 before the saine has been applied to the case.

As illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 5 of the draw- 15 ings, the spectaclecase as l is composed of a substantially rectangular body portion 2 anda cover portion 3, both of which are preferably composed of sheet metalstampings and are hinged together along one longitudinal edge 20 thereofas at 4, Figure 2. The body and cov`er members, as shown in Figure 2 areprovided with the usual pliable outer covering 5 composed preferably ofleather or a manufactured fabric of a cloth base covered with one ormore coatings 25 of what is commonly called pyroxylin or other plasticmaterial which is then embossed or treated to obtain various colors anddesigns or grains.

The case is also shown as being provided with a lining 6 in theconventional manner and which 30 may be composed of any suitablematerial such as plush, velvet or the like.

The hereinbefore mentioned decorative element for the case is of thenature of an inlay comprised of one or more thin relatively narrowmetallic bars' or strips 8 composed preferably of zinc and chromiumplated on one side. However, I do not wish to be limited-to any specificclass of material as it is obvious that various other flexiblematerials, such as aluminum, chro- 40 mium or nickel plated brass or thelike may be readily used.

These bars or strips may be cut or stamped from a sheet of suitablematerial and arranged to form a mmnpncay of summe designs, de-

vpending upon the desire and skill ofthe designer. For instance, inFigures 1 and 3, I have illustrated one design of my novel inlay ordecorative element and which is of substantially rectangular outlinecomprising a' pair of longi- 50 tudinally extending side bars I0 o!greater length than that of the `case member to which the inlay is to beapplied. These side bars I0 are arranged in transverse spaced relationand intermediate longitudinally extending bars Il are arranged ends ofthe longitudinal bars are tied together by a cross bar I3 which, it willbe noted, will maintain adjacent end portions of the longitudinal barsin predetermined fixed relation. l

As illustrated more, particularly in Figure 4, each'longitudinal bar andcross bar is formed slightly concaved by the turning of the longitudinaledges thereof laterally awayfrom the plated or outer surface of the baras at I l which not only aids in securing the inlay to the case as willhereinafter be more apparent, but also provides a recess I5 for thereception and maintenance of suitable adhesive that is applied to theinner surface of the bar I2 as illustrated at I6. This inlay is appliedto the case I .during the process of manufacture of the case in thefollowing manner.

The case body 2 and cover 3 are rst formed in the usual manner fromsheet metal by stamp-l ing or other suitable means and then thesemembers are secured together as by hinge means 4. The outer covering 5is cut to the proper outline and treated with a suitable adhesive suchas gutta percha by the vapplication thereof 'to the inner surface of thecovering. 'Ihe covering is then ntted to the case in the conventionalmanner by manually applying the same to rst the outer surface of thebody! and then to the outer surface of the covering 3 after which themarginal edge of the covering is folded inwardly about the marginal edgeof these case members as illustrated at Il. Figure 2.

The inlay is then placed over the outer covering of either the bodyportion or cover portion or both, as desired, and the ends of the inlayare folded inwardly about the adjacent edge of the case member.

It'willatthispointbeobservedthatinas- `muchasthelengthofthlesidebarsIlisgreater than that of the case member, as previously stated, the endtie bars I3 are positioned as illustrated in Figure 2 within'the casemember, as the cover 3,'adjacent the marginal edge Il of the covering 5and will maintain the adjacent portions-of the longitudinal bars Il andII in predetermined spaced relation dln'ing and after the folding of theends thereof about the marginal` edgeofthecover. Thecaseisthenplacedinaconventionally constructed cover applying apparatus which includes aheated die that presses the covering into clo contact with the outersurface of the body and cover and with the mari ginal and inner edges'of the case. At thesame time the heat of the die renders the adhesivecarried by the covering material eifective so that the'covering issecurely mounted on these metal case members.

It willnowbe understood that the inlay will receive the same treatmentfrom the die as the case covering and will thereby be securely fixed tothe case simultaneously with the outer. covering and without thenecessity of any change or alteration being made to the cover applyingmechanism. I,

Inotherwordathediememberwillpressthe inlay into close contactwith theouter case cover andtheheat of the diewill rendertheadhesivecarriedbytheinlayeffectiveforfinnlysccuring aoaasie the inlay to thecover with the outer endsI of said inlay folded inwardly about themarginal edge of the case member to which the inlay is applied.Furthermore, owing to the inlay bars having the edges thereof turnedinwardly, lthe 5 pressure exerted by the. die will imbed the sides ofthe bar into the case covering to a. greater or less degreev and therebyfurther secure the inlay to the case.

That is, owing to the fact that the longitudinal edges of the bars areimbedded in the covering material as at I0', Figure 5, peculiarly adaptsthem to co-act with the adhesive in maintaining the bars against lateraldisplacement. Not only this, but inasmuch as the longitudinal edges ofthe bars are slightly rounded and imbedded in the covering material, itis obvious that these edges will provide a smooth even feel and this hasthe further advantage of giving the impression that the thin metallicstrips or bars comprising the inlay are fully imbedded in the case withthe outer surface thereof flush with the covering material.

This feature of the invention is clearly shown in Figure 5, although thedrawing being made tosuchan enlarged scale greatly exaggerates theamount to which the inlay extends outwardly from the outer covering.

After the outer covering and inlay have thus been applied to the bodyandcover, the case is removed from the cover-applying apparatus and vthe inner covering or lining l is then manually In Figures 6, 7 a'nd 8 Ihave illustrateda modi- 40,-

iled form of inlay and outer covering. In this instance, the outercovering as 20 is composed of two separate contrasting pieces ofmaterial 2l' and 2l" which may be of the same kind but of diiferentcolor or they may be of different kinds,

such for instance, as leather and a treated fabric `formed in the mannerpreviously described.

'I'hese covering pieces are arranged in juxtaposed relation with theiradjacent edges extending diagonally across the case cover. These cov-.eringv pieces may be, as shown, applied directly to the correspondingportions of the case member' or the outer surface of the case may becompletely covered with one of the cover members such as the fabric 2l"and the other cover piece 55 as 2l' may be applied over a correspondingportion of the underlying fabric cover.

Theinlay shown in these figures comprises a .single bar 8 formed in themanner' described above for the bars in the inlay shown in Figure 3. Thebar i is arranged obliquely across the case cover in such a manner as tospan the adjacent edges 2| of the covering materials so as to concealsaid edges therebeneath, as illustrated in Figure 7, The bar l is ofgreater length than the underlying portion of the upper surface of thecover and has the ends thereof foldedinwardly about the edges of thecover in the same manner in which the ends of the inlay shown in Figures1 and 2 are folded and these lnturned ends 70 of the bar 8 function tomaintain the bar in v iixed relation with the cover and are concealedures 1 to 5 inclusive. A 76 I t will be noted that when the covering andinlay are constructed in the manner disclosed in Figures 6, 7 and 8 thatthe inlay not only serves as a decoration for the case but alsofunctions as a retaining member for holding the adjacent edges of thetwo contrasting cover materials in position.

In Figures 9 to 12 inclusive, I have shown modified forms of casecoverings together with further modifications of my novel decorativeelement or inlay. For instance, in Figure 9 the -outer covering as iscomposed of a single piece of material provided with contrasting co1-ored portions. The inlay as shown more particularly in Figure 10 isprovidedy with a longitudinally extending bar 26 and two angularlydisposed bars 21 which extend obliquely across the longitudinal bar 26in spaced relation to adjacent ends thereof. These angularly disposedbars 21 intersect each other near one end in a plane substantiallymidway between the ends of the longitudinal bar 26 and the adjacent endsof the angular bars 21 are tied together by a cross bar 28 while theother ends of the angular bars 21 and the corresponding ends of thelongitudinal bar 26 are tied together by cross bars 29,. Other angularlydisposed bars 30 extend from the junction of the angular bars 21outwardly in diverging planes thereto and connect with the longitudinalbar 26 intermediate the junction of the angular bars 21 with saidlongitudinal bar and the corresponding outer end of the longitudinal barto form triangular sections 3|.

The inlay as shown in Figure 10 is appliedv to the case cover in themanner shown in Figure 9 with the longitudinal bar 26` extendinglongitudinally of the cover in spaced parallel relation with the hingedside thereof while the junction of the angularly disposedbars 21 isarranged substantially midway between the ends of the case in spacedrelation to the edge thereof opposite the hinge side.

The outer end portions of the longitudinal bar 26 and angularly disposedbars 21 are folded inwardly about the edge of the cover member in amanner shown and described for the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2 sothat the cross tie members 28 and 29 will lie within the case and beconcealed by the inner covering or lining thereof. It is thus seen thatthese tie bars function in the same manner as the tie bars I3 shown inFigure 3 for maintaining the end portions of the adjacent bars 26 and 21in predetermined spaced relation during the application of the inlay tothe case.

The major portion of the outer covering which is shown plain may be ofany suitable color such as blue, while the portions of the cover definedby the triangular sections 3| are shaded as indicated by section linefrom a deep yellow or gold adjacent the longitudinal bar 21 to a red orpink at the opposite end thereof. Also the triangular portion defined bythe outer ends of the angular bars 21 adjacent the junction thereof iscolored as indicated by section lines green. v

In the structure shown in Figures 11 and 12 the inlay is composed of aplurality of, in this instance three, longitudinally extending barswhich are arranged in slightly parallel spaced relation. A pair ofangularly disposed bars 36 are arranged to extend obliquely across thelongitudinal bars 35 intermediate the centers and ends thereof. Asillustrated, the outer ends of the angular bars 36 and the correspondingends of the longitudinal bars 35 are tied together by angular bars 36are tied together by a cross bar 38.

The cross bar 38, in this instance, has each end thereof extended beyondthe corresponding angular bar 36 and is connected with the longitudinalbars 35 by a pair of angularlyvdisposed bars 39 arranged in spacedparallel relation with the adjacent portion of the angular bar 36.

It will be noted that when this inlay is applied to the case, asillustrated in Figure 11, the cross bars 31 and 38 will lie within thecase cover in spaced relation to the adjacent edge thereof similar tothe manner in which the tie` bars I3 are arranged and will maintain thecorresponding longitudinal or angularly disposed bars in predeterminedspaced relation during the application of the inlay to the case.

It will be noted by referring to'Figure 11 that I have here againillustrated another decorative arrangement of the case cover whichcombines with the metallic inlay to produce novel artistic effects. Forinstance, I have shown certain portions as 40 and 4I of the case coverasoutlined by the bars of the inlay member which contrast in appearancefrom the remaining portion of the case. These portions 40 and 4I may beformed by coloring the corresponding portions of the cover member toproduce contrasting shades or the portions may be formed by embossing orthe like to represent leather or the port-ions may be formed by securingportions of leather to the underlying portion of the outer covering toproduce varied and artistic effects.

Although I have shown and particularly described the various features ofthis invention together with certain modifications or differentarrangements thereof, L do not wish to be limited to the exactconstruction shown as various other changes may be readily made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A spectacle case or vthe like comprising in combination a case memberand a decorative element for said case member including an elongatedsubstantially iiat element arranged across the outer vsurface of thecase member, said elongated element being formed with an inwardly curvededge imbedded in the case member to form a substantially smooth evensurface from the case member to the decorative element, and means forsecuring the element to said case member.

2. A spectacle case or the like comprising in combination a case memberand a decorative element for said case member comprising a substantiallyflat bar arranged across the outer surface of the case member, said barbeing formed with an inwardly curved edge imbedded in the case member toform a substantially smooth surface from the case member to the bar, andmeans for securing the decorative element to said case member.

3. A spectacle case or the like comprising in combination a case memberanda decorative element for said case member vcomprising a subcovermember for the case, a covering of flexible material extending over theouter surface of the cov'erI member, and a decorative bar arrangedacross thel outer covering and having the ends thereof folded inwardlyabout the edge of the case member for securing the bar to said member',said bar being formed with inwardly curved edges imbedded in said outercovering.

5.' A spectacle case or the like comprising in combination a case memberhaving a covering of flexible material extending over the outer surfacethereof, a decorative bar arranged across the covering with the endsfolded inwardly about thev edge of the case member forsecuring the barto said member, and additional means for securing the bar to thecovering.

6. In a spectacle case or the like comprising in combination a casemember having a covering extending over the outer surface thereof, 'saidcoveringcomprising two pieces of exible material arranged in juxtaposedrelation with their adjacent edges extending across the outer surface.of the case member, and a metallic bar inlay arranged over said adjacentedges of the covering, and means for securing the bar inlay in position.

'7. A case for spectacles or the like comprising i a case member havinga covering including areas of contrasting surfaces, a metallicdecorative bar arranged across said case member, for joining saidsurfaces, the ends of the bar being folded inwardly about the edge 'ofthe case member for securing the bar to said member, and additionalmeans for securing the bar and covering together.

8. In a case for spectacles or the like, a decorative element comprisinga plurality of thin substantially flat metallic bars arranged in spacedrelation, said bars being adapted to extend across the outer surface ofthe member of the case with the ends thereof foldedinwardly about theedge of said member, and tie meansy connecting the adjacent ends of thebars for maintaining the corresponding end portions of said bars infixed predetermined relation with each other.

, whereby said edges will become more or less irn-l bedded in the casemember when the bars are applied thereto under pressure.

10. A device as in claim 8 in which the bars are formed slightly convexin cross section whereby the longitudinal edges thereof will become moreor less imbedded in the case member when the bars are applied theretounder pressure.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a case forspectacles or the like comprising a body member and a cover memberhinged together, a covering of flexible material extending over theouter surfaces of the body and cover members and folded inwardly overthe edges of said members, and a lining element for said case adaptedlto extend over the inturned edge of the outer covering, of a lthinsubstantially at metallic decorative bar arranged across the outercovering of one of the case members and with the ends thereof foldedinwardly about the edge of said member and extended beneath the caselining to be concealed thereby.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with aA case forspectacles or the like comprising a body member and a cover memberhinged together, a covering of flexible material extending over, theouter surfaces of the body and cover members and folded inwardly overthe edges of said members, and a lining element lfor said case adaptedto extend over the inturned edge oi.' the outer covering, of adecorative element comprising a plurality of thin substantially hatmetallic elongated bars arranged with their ends in spaced relation,means comprising cross bars securing adjacent ends of the elongated barsin fixed predetermined relation, said elongated bar being arrangedacross the outer covering of one of the case members and having the endsthereof folded inwardly about the edge of said member with said crossbars positioned beneath the case lining to be concealed thereby. 13. Amethod of manufacturing a decorated case for spectacles or the likewhich comprises 15 providing a decorative element from a thinsubstantially flat metallic bar or strip, applying adhesive to one sideofthe bar, positioning said bar on the outer surface of one of the casemembers and folding the ends of the bar inwardly 20 Vabout the edge ofthecase member, and then securing the element to the case by theapplication of heat and pressure.'

14. A method of manufacturing a decorated case for spectacles or thelike which comprises 25 providing a decorative element from a thinsubstantially flat metallic bar or strip, applying adhesive to one sideof the bar, positioning said bar on the outer surface of one of the casemembers and folding the ends of the bar inwardly 30 about the edge ofthe case member, then securing the velement to the case by theapplication of heat and pressure, and then applying a lining to theinterior of the case and over said folded ends of the bar.

15. A method of manufacturing a decorated case for spectacles `or thelike which comprises forming a decorative element from a plurality ofthin substantially flat metallic bars or strips, applying adhesive toone side of the bars, position- 4c ing said decorative element on theouter surface of one of the case members and folding the ends of certainof the bars vor strips about the edge of said case member, and thensecuring the decorative element to the case by the application of 45heat and pressure.

16. A method of manufacturing a decorated caselfor spectacles or thelike which comprises forming a decorative element from a plurality ofthin substantially flat metallic bars or strips, applying adhesive toone side of the bars, positioning said decorative element on the outersurface of one of the case members and folding the ends of certain ofthe bars or strips about the edge of said case member, then securing thedecorative element to the case by the application of heat and pressure,and then applying a lining to the interior of the case and over saidfolded ends of the bars.

17. A spectacle case comprising in combination a sheet metal case memberhaving a covering of flexible material extending over the outer surfacethereof, a thin metallic element located upon said covering, saidmetallic element being formed with an inwardly curved edge imbedded insaid covering to form a substantially smooth even surface therewith,adhesive means on the'under side of said metallic element for securingthe same to said covering, and additional mechanical means integral withsaid metallic element and 7C cooperating with said case member forholding said metallic element in position.

CARL R. JERRY.

